Cells and Tissues Flashcards
What are the three main parts to a cell?
- Plasma Membrane
- Nucleus
- Cytoplasm
What is the study of cell structure?
Cytology
What is the study of cell function?
Cell Physiology
What is the study of tissue?
Histology
What is the Plasma Membrane’s function and properties?
- Acts as a barrier for the cell contents
- Composed of a Lipid Bilayer
- Has Hydrophilic heads and Hydrophobic tails
- It is a dynamic, fluid structure and changes shape etc
What does the Lipid Bilayer consist of?
3 types of lipids:
a) Phospholipid
b) Glycolipid
c) Cholesterol
2 types of protein:
a) Integral Proteins (they traverse the membrane, are integral to the membrane’s structure)
b) Peripheral Proteins (sit beside the integral proteins, are not actually in the plasma membrane)
What is Microvilli and its function?
- finger-like projections of the plasma membrane of specialised cells
- Increase the surface area of the plasma membrane to increase absorption and excretion rates
What are the three types of Membrane Junctions?
- Tight Juntions
- Desmosomes
- Gap Junctions
What is the function and properties of Tight Junctions?
- Also known as impermeable junctions
- Hold cells together, and force molecules trying to pass between cells to pass through different junctions instead
- Also provide some rigidity to cell structure
What is the function and properties of Desmosomes?
- Also known as Anchoring Junctions
2. Are the main structural anchor for the cell - are the main support holding cells together
What is the function and properties of Gap Junctions?
- Communication channels, molecules can pass freely between them
What is the Nucleus?
The control centre of the cell which contains genetic material known as DNA
Define these terms:
- Uninucleate
- Anucleate
- Multinucleate
- One nucleus in the cell
- No nucleus in the cell
- Multiple nuclei in the cell
What does the Cytoplasm consist of?
- Cytosol
- Organelles
- Inclusions
What is a Solution?
A mixture of two or more components
What is a dissolving medium called?
Solvent